Baseboard and floor cleaning apparatus and brush therefor



Dec. 12, 1967 w. ANNIS, JR

BASEBOARD AND FLOOR CLEANING APPARATUS AND BRUSH THEREFOR s Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Jan. 30, 1964 INVENTOR.

TRUMAN W. ANNIS,JR

/Z& 464%;

ATTORNEY 12, 1967 T- w. ANNIS, JR 3,357,141

BASEBOARD AND FLOOR CLEANING APPARATUS AND BRUSH THEREFOR Filed Jan. 30, 1964 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. TRUMAN W. ANNIS, JR.

Zigzltg Dec. 12, 1967 T. w. ANNIS, JR 3,357,141-

BASEBOARD AND FLOOR CLEANING APPARATUS AND BRUSH THEREFOR Filed Jan. 50, 1964 I5 Sheets-Sheet E INVENTOR. I TRUMAN W. ANNIS,.JR

BYz/zz ATTORNEY United States Patent C) 3,357,141 BASEBQARD AND FLQOR CLEANING APPARATUS AND BRUSH THEREFOR Truman W. Annis, .lr., 71 S. Main St., Manchester, Conn. 06040 Filed Jan. 30, 1964, Ser. No. 341,310 34 Claims. (Cl. 51-176) The present invention relates to floor cleaning apparatus, and more specifically, to a novel apparatus for cleaning baseboards and floors and a brush therefor.

Typically, the floor maintenance trade has employed rotary driven fiber brushes or steel wool pads for the stripping and polishing of floors. More recently, pads fabricated from low density fibrous abrasive material, such as the open non-woven fibrous article described and claimed in United States Patent No. 2,958,593 to Hoover et al. in 1960, have been used alone and in conjunction with the conventional fiber brushes. Although these conventional brush and pad structures have been well adapted to stripping and scouring floors, generally they have been ill suited to the cleaning of baseboards. As a result, baseboards generally have been cleaned either manually or with specialized machinery with resultant large investments in man-hours or equipment, so that baseboards are often neglected in the floor cleaning operation.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a novel apparatus for effective and convenient cleaning of both baseboards and floors.

Another object is to provide a novel brush assembly for effective and convenient cleaning of both baseboards and floors and which is readily adaptable for use in conjunction with existing floor machines.

It is also an object to provide such a brush assembly which is relatively long lasting, relatively simple to manufacture and relatively inexpensive.

A further object is to provide such a brush assembly having conveniently interchangeable and replaceable components for optimum economy in operation.

Still another object is to provide a novel brush for cleaning baseboards and floorboards which is relatively long lasting, relatively simple to manufacture and economical and which is adapted to use with existing floor cleaning apparatus.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent from the following detailed specification and the attached drawings wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a conventional floor cleaning machine with a baseboard floor brush assembly embodying the present invention;

FIGURE 2 is a fragmentary sectional view to an enlarged scale along the line 2-2 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a sectional view along the line 33 of FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 4 is a fragmentary perspective view to an enlarged scale of the brush flag structure of the brush assembly of FIGURES 13;

FIGURE 5 is a view similar to FIGURE 4 illustrating an alternative embodiment of the brush flag structure;

FIGURE 6 is a similar view showing another embodiment of the brush flag structure;

FIGURE 7 is a similar view ShOWil'lg a further embodiment of the brush flag structure;

FIGURE 8 is a perspective view of another embodiment of a baseboard-floor brush;

FIGURE 9 is a sectional view in elevation to a reduced scale of still another embodiment of a baseboard-floor brush;

FIGURE 10 is a sectional view in elevation illustrating a modification of the baseboard-floor brush assembly of FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 11 is a sectional view in elevation of yet another baseboard-floor brush assembly embodying the present invention;

FIGURE 12 is a perspective view to an enlarged scale of a partially folded brush flag component for the assembly of FIGURE 11;

FIGURE 13 is a fragmentary plan view to an enlarged scale of the baseboard-floor brush of the assembly of FIGURE 11;

FIGURE 14 is a sectional view in elevation to a reduced scale of a further baseboard-floor brush assembly embodying the present invention; and

FIGURE 15 is an elevational view of a further baseboard-floor brush assembly embodying the present invention with portions of the flag portions and drive unit broken away to reveal internal construction.

It has now been found that the foregoing and related objects may be readily attained in a floor machine of the type having a brush drive shaft and a brush housing combined with a baseboard-floor brush member disposed at the lower end of the brush housing and having a core portion and a multiplicity of flag portions of flexible abrasive material extending radially outwardly from the core portion about the periphery thereof. The flag portions extend radially outwardly of the brush housing and therebelow for cleaning baseboards and extend downwardly to the lower surface of the core portion for contacting and cleaning floors. The core portion is drivingly engaged with the drive shaft for rotation thereby with the flag portions rotating radially outwardly of the housing for the cleaning of baseboards as the floor machine is moved adjacent thereto.

The radial outer edge portions of the flag portions may be divided into a plurality of vertically oriented radially extending flag elements to provide greater flexibility in conforming to contours of baseboards being cleaned. Such vertically multipled flag elements may be conveniently provided by slits extending radially inwardly from the outer margins of integrally formed flag portions.

The core portion may be drivingly engaged with the drive shaft through frictional or mechanical means, either directly or through an intermediate member. In the preferred embodiment, an adapter member is provided having an upper portion rotationally engaged with the brush drive shaft and a lower portion in rotational engagement with the core portion of the brush. The adapter member is configured and dimensioned to space the flag elements of the brush member below the floor machine housing.

It will be readily appreciated that the flag portions may be initially configured or subsequently provided with notches, slots or cut-outs in the upper edge thereof to provide rotational clearance with respect to the housing and thus may have their outer portions extend upwardly of the bottom edge of the housing. As used herein, terminology calling for the brush flag components or portions to be spaced below or extend radially outwardly below the fioor machine housing is intended to include structures wherein the entire brush flag component is disposed below the housing and those wherein the brush flag is configured to provide the necessary rotational clearance below the machine housing with portions thereof being disposed above the lower edge of the housing.

To facilitate the assembly and disassembly of the novel baseboard-floor brush assembly of the present invention, the adapter member is provided with a downwardly facing adapter clutch surface conveniently provided by an adapter clutch pad in frictional driving engagement with an upwardly facing brush clutch surface conveniently provided by a brush clutch pad on the brush member, thereby obviating the need for mechanically linking the brush to the adapter. In using such a friction drive, it is highly desirable that the adapter member and the brush member include means for maintaining the brush memher in alignment with the adapter member to prevent the brush member from spinning out from under the adapter member. Conveniently such means include a lip portion depending from the adapter member about the adapter clutch surface, and a brush clutch surface which is raised from immediately adjacent upper surface portions of the brush member to provide an upstanding portion to be received snugly within the lip portion when the two clutch surfaces are frictionally engaged. Alternatively, the brush member might have an upstanding lip about the brush clutch surface which could receive a depending portion of the adapter or either one of the brush and adapter members might have a projection extending into a corresponding recessin the other member.

Although frictional engagement between the adapter member and the brush member is generally highly desirable, under some circumstances it may be desired to provide a mechanical engagement. This end may be easily accomplished by any well-known mechanical expedient including fasteners extending from one member to the other, a pair of spaced projections extending from one of the members into a pair of cooperating spaced recesses in the other member, or a drive sleeve of non-circular cross-section extending into a cooperatively configured axial recess in the adapter member for non-rotational engagement therewith and downwardly into a like recess in the brush member for non-rotational engagement therewith. This latter form of mechanical engagement is desirable in that the sleeve may be easily removed, leaving the clutch surfaces on the adapter member and brush member substantially intact for frictional engagement when desired.

The brush flag portions may be secured to core portions or assemblies having a variety of structural characteristics. In a preferred embodiment characterized by light weight and relatively low cost, the core portion or assembly has an outer or peripheral core member fabricated from relatively light weight, foamed synthetic plastic material. An aperture of hexagonal or other noncircular cross section extends axially therethrough and non-rotatably receives a split inner core member with an upper element detachably secured to a lower element. A generally circular brush clutch pad is bonded to or otherwise non-rotatably attached to the upper surface of the upper element and overlies the peripheral core member to provide an upwardly facing brush clutch surface for frictional engagement with an associated rotating drive means such as provided by the adapter member. A floor pad is non-rotatably attached to the lower surface of the lower element and underlies the peripheral core member to provide support for the brush and floor machine and to clean floors. Generally, the floor pad will wear out before the brush flag portions, and the split inner core member with the attached worn pad may be removed and discarded while the outer core member is saved for continued use. In a modification of this embodiment, the core member may be integrally fabricated from foamed synthetic plastic material with the floor pad bonded thereto, in which case the entire brush member would be discarded upon wearing of the attached abrasive material.

The brush flag portions are conveniently secured at the radially inner end portions thereof to the foamed plastic by interengagement therewith or by any relatively strong, water-resistant mastic or adhesive. The adhesive may be provided by portions of the plastic material of the core itself through solvent or heat-sealing and the term adhesive is defined herein as including portions of the foamed plastic material used for this purpose. A small portion of the plastic material used for the core may be applied in the fluid state to the flag portions prior to their being placed about the periphery of a preformed core member, or the flag portions may be disposed to extend radially outwardly from a predetermined circle to form a portion of a mold into which the fluid plastic for the core is poured. Portions of the plastic material which contact the radially inner portions of the brush flag portions harden to secure the flag portions to the core member.

In another embodiment, a plurality of brush flag elements have their inner end portions mounted upon an annular core band member of high tensile strength to provide a core structure. Preferably, the flag elements are tightly compressed upon the core band member to provide rigidity to the core structure. Outer end portions of the flag elements extend radially outwardly from the core structure and are dimensioned to extend radially outwardly of the housing of floor machine, and extend downwardly from the core b and to provide both baseboard and floor cleaning surfaces.

In still another embodiment having great structural simplicity and economy of maintenance, a plurality of brush flag elements are sewn or otherwise conveniently secured to a flexible loop member which extends about the periphery of a generally circular core member. Most desirably, the core member is provided with two axially spaced, radially outwardly extending circumferential flange portions which receive therebetween the loop member to restrain it from axially sliding off the core member during operation. However, alternative axial restraining means may be provided, including radially extending projections spaced about the periphery of the core member above and below the loop member. As another alternative, the core may be provided with a notch such as a V-notch and the loop member may be in the form of a conventional V-belt. Desirably, from the standpoint of economy and simplicity of use and structure, the loop member is elastic and is dimensioned to be tensioned as it extends about the periphery of the core member to be frictionally engaged therewith for substantially prevent ing relative rotation therebetween during operation. Other means for preventing such relative rotation may be employed including radially extending projections spaced about the periphery of the core member and projecting through suitably spaced apertures in the loop member. These projections may be in the form of threaded fasteners extending through the loop member into the core member.

In this embodiment as in others, the upper surface of the core member may be textured or roughened, or a brush clutch pad may be bonded or attached there to provide a brush clutch surf-ace for frictional rotational engagement with an adapter clutch surface as hereinbefore described. Although the entire core member may be fabricated from an abrasive material suitable for cleaning floors, a separate conventional z'ioor pad member of abrasive material is preferably employed and is conveniently frlctionally driven by the core member rather than being bonded thereto for convenient replacement upon wearing out. Therefore, the lower surface of the core member may be textured or a driving pad may be bonded thereto to provide a drive surface for frictional rotational engagement with a separate floor pad.

The brush flag elements used in the present invention are fabricated from flexible abrasive material which yields as the brush is brought into close contact with a baseboard to present a fiat surface portion to the baseboard. The outer radial edges of the flag element preferably are generally vertical for uniform cleaning over the height of the baseboards, and the flag elements extend downwardly to the lower surface of the core assembly for contact with and cleaning of doors. When a floor pad is used, the flag elements desirably extend downwardly to at least the lower edge thereof to continue in a floor cleaning capa-city. Moreover, when the floor pad is frictionally driven, the lower edges of the flag portions prevent the door pad from spinning out from under the floor machine. As will be readily appreciated, the flag elements in each of the several embodiments may extend not only to the bottom surface of the floor pad but also some distance therebelow in the uncompressed position because the relatively flexible nature thereof will permit some vertical displacement and/or compression under loading to bring the lower surface thereof into line with the lower surface of the floor pad.

As used herein, the term abrasive material includes flexible material harder than wax, grime, and other contaminants and therefore capable of abrading contaminants, as well as material having abrasive particles embedded therein, and preferably fibrous material such as nylon.

For use with existing conventional floor machines, the baseboard-floor brush must project radially outwardly of the brush housing thereof for unimpeded access to the baseboard, and the generally radial brush construction of the present invention is ideally suited to this end. To avoid excessive structural and design considerations for the baseboard-floor brush which is expendable, an adapter member is desirable to space the brush sufficiently below the housing to provide clearance between the housing and the radially extending brush flag elements. The adapter may also provide a highly desirable friction drive for the brush, thereby eliminating cumbersome and expensive mechanical linking and saving time in setting up and taking down the floor machine.

Desirably, the baseboard-floor brush of the present invention is symmetrical about a horizontal axis so that the brush may be inverted for eflicient use of the brush flag material and optimum economy.

As will be readily appreciated, the core assembly includes the portion of the baseboard-floor brush generally radially inwardly of the brush flag portions or elements and will generally be comprised of the core members, brush clutch pads and floor pads where they are used.

Turning now in detail to the attached drawings, FIG- URES 1 and 2 generally illustrate a conventional floor machine generally designated by the numeral 2 and having a brush housing 4 and a vertical brush drive shaft 6 projecting downwardly thereinto. Within the housing 4 is an adapter member generally designated by the numeral 8 and having a peripheral dish-shaped shell 10 of durable, strong material such as metal. The upper, narrower end 12 of the adapter 8 is drivingly coupled to the drive flange 14 of the brush drive shaft 6 by threaded fasteners 16. A filler 18 of foamed plastic material within the shell 10 which adheres thereto also adheres to the circular adapter clutch pad 20, and the filler-clutch pad assembly is dimensioned to space the downwardly facing clutch surface of the pad 20 upwardly from the depending annular lip portion 22 at the lower, wider end of the adapter member 8.

The adapter clutch pad 20 is in frictional, readily detachable, driving engagement with the upper surface of the baseboard-floor brush, generally designated by the numeral 24, for imparting rotation thereto and the adapter member 8 is of suflicient depth to space the entire brush 24 below the brush housing 4 and thus provide rotational clearance therebetween.

As seen in FIGURE 2, the brush 24 has a core assembly including a circular brush clutch pad 26 which provides an upwardly facing clutch surface in frictional driving engagement with the adapter clutch pad 20, and the annular lip 22 of the adapter 8 fits snugly about the brush clutch pad 26 to hold the brush 24 in axial alignment with the adapter member 8 and prevent the brush 24 from spinning out from under the floor machine 2. The brush clutch pad 26 is attached to the upper element 29 of the split inner core member 28 which is non-rotatably received in the hexagonal or other noncircular aperture 30 extending axially through the generally circular outer or peripheral core member 32 for driving engagement therewith as seen in FIGURE 3. Secured to the lower element 31 of the split inner core member 28 is a floor pad 34 which underlies the outer core member 32 for cleaning floors and providing support for the brush 24 and fioor machine 2. The two elements 29, 31 of the split inner core member 28 are drawn together by a threaded fastener 36 having a wing nut 38 which may be manually rotated through a suitable aperture 40 in the brush clutch pad 26 for drawing the brush clutch pad 26 and floor pad 34 tightly against the outer core member 32. To prevent interference from the fastener 36 and wing nut 38, the outer ends of the elements 29, 31 are countersunk at the fastener aperture. In this embodiment, the outer core member 32 is conveniently fabricated from foamed synthetic plastic material and the sides of the aperture 30 are reinforced against abrastion by a covering 42 of relatively abrasion resistant material such as sheet metal.

Extending radially outwardly from the generally circular periphery of the outer core member 32 beyond the housing 4 are a plurality of flag elements 44 of flexible, abrasive material, preferably a low density fibrous material as shown. The generally vertically extending radially outer edges of the flag elements 44 are well adapted for cleaning baseboards over the height thereof and are provided with radial slits 46 to provide vertically multiple flag components to enable the flag elements to deflect and clean around projections on the baseboards such as door stops, air duct grate handles, and electrical apparatus. In the illustration, the flag elements 4-4 project downwardly a short distance below the lower surface of the floor pad 34 in the uncompressed position to aid in floor cleaning. Because the flag elements 44 are relatively flexible, the projecting lower portions yield against the floor under loading until the floor machine 2 is substantially entirely supported through the outer core member 32 of the brush 24 by the floor pad 34. The downwardly projecting lower portion of the flag elements 44 forms a circular recess within which the floor pad 34 is received and which may be dimensioned to encompass a second floor pad such as a thin polishing pad, thus preventing such a second floor pad from spinning out from under the floor machine 2. The flag elements 44 are conveniently and securely anchored to the outer core member 32 by any relatively strong, water-resistant mastic or adhesive (not shown) which conveniently may be a portion of the foamed plastic material of the core.

The illustrated brush 24 is substantially symmetrical about a horizontal axis and the brush clutch pad 26 and the floor pad 34 are substantially identical. Thus, the brush 24 may be inverted when the lower portions of the flag elements 44 wear out or when the floor pad 34 has worn to the point of greatly reduced efficiency in cleaning floors but of still continuing in service to provide a brush clutch surface. When the floor pad 34 and the brush clutch pad 26 wear out, the relatively inexpensive split inner core member 28 is easily removed for quick and convenient replacement.

The use of a friction drive between the adapter 8 and brush 24 enables the brush to be quickly and easily mounted, removed, and replaced. The overall versatility of the assembly is further enhanced in that the entire baseboard-floor brush 24 may be removed and a circular floor pad may be conveniently received within the lip portion 22 of the adapted member 8 for floor work only, the lip portion 22 preventing the frictionally driven floor pad from spinning out from under the floor machine 2.

Turning now to FIGURE 4, therein is illustrated a preferred form of flag portion construction. Each of a plurality of lengths of flexible, abrasive material is folded upon itself to form a pair of flag elements 44, with slits 46 extending radially inwardly from the radially outer edges. The folded edge of the material abuts the peripheral portion of the outer core member 32 and is conveniently bonded thereto by any suitable mastic or adhesive (not shown) adjacent the fold line.

Turning now to FIGURES 5-8, therein are illustrated several alternate forms of flag construction.

In FIGURE 5, a continuous strip of flexible, abrasive material has been folded into undulations about alternate inner and outer vertical fold lines in accordion fashion and has been placed about the outer core member 32 to 7 form a multiplicity of radially extending flag elements 44 of double thickness. The material of the flag elements 44 adjacent the radially inner fold lines is secured to the outer core member 32.

In FIGURE 6, a continuous strip of brush flag material is folded into undulations in accordion fashion about alternate upper and lower horizontal fold lines and is placed about the outer core member 32. The radially inner edges of the resulting flag elements 44 are then secured to the foamed plastic material of the outer core member 32.

In FIGURE 7, each flag element 44 is separately formed, and the radially inner edges thereof are secured to the foamed plastic material of the outer core member 32 conveniently by a suitable adhesive as earlier indicated.

In FIGURE 8, a continuous strip of flexible, abrasive material with a multiplicity of slits 48 extending from one edge thereof partially to the other edge is coiled upon itself to form a helix about the outer core member 32 and thus provides a plurality of radially outwardly extending finger-like flag elements 50. An adhesive may be interposed between the slit-free inner edge portions of adjacent layers of the helix to increase the rigidity of the flag elements 50. The radially inner edge of the strip of material is then secured to the outer core member 32 conveniently by a suitable adhesive.

FIGURE 9 illustrates an alternative embodiment of a baseboard-floor brush embodying the present invention wherein brush clutch pad 126 is secured to the top of an integrally formed core member 128 formed of foamed synthetic plastic material by any suitable means (not shown) such as adhesive. The flag elements 144 are provided with radial slits 146 in the outer radial edge thereof and have narrow, radially inwardly extending lower portions 152 which, because of the decreasing diameter as they extend inwardly, must be tightly compressed together in order that the material thereof may be accommodated, thereby forming a relatively rigid abrasive lower brush portion capable of supporting the weight of a floor machine and cleaning floors and thus eliminating the need for a separate floor pad.

Referring now to FIGURE 10, therein is illustrated mechanical means for rotationally locking the adapter member 8 and the brush 24. A drive member or sleeve 54 of polygonal or other non-circular cross-section has its upper end portion non-rotatably received in the axially located polygonal recess or aperture 56 extending through the adapter clutch pad 20 into the filler material 18 of the adapter 8.The lower end portion of the sleeve 54 extends through an enlarged aperture 58 in the brush clutch pad 26 and is non-rotatably received in the noncircular aperture 30 in the outer core member 32, thus positively locking the brush 24 from rotating with respect to the adapter 8. If desired, the sleeve 54 may be removed, and the brush may be frictionally driven by engagement between the adapter clutch pad 20 and the brush clutch pad 26.

Turning now to FIGURES 11-13, therein is illustrated another baseboard-floor brush assembly embodying the present invention. Flag elements 202 are formed by folding a plurality of rectangular pieces 204 of flexible, abra sive material about a vertical fold line, and folding over an outer flap 206 and an inner flap 208, each cut from the upper portions of flag elements 202 adjacent the vertical fold line, to provide four thicknesses of material adjacent the fold line of each rectangle 204 as seen in FIGURES 12 and 13. Slits 210 in the rectangle 204 are aligned in the folded material and an annular steel core band 212 passes therethrough. Spacer members 214 of hard rubber or like relatively non-compressible material are mounted on the core band 212 between adjacent flag elements 202, as seen in FiGURE 13. The flag elements 202 and spacer members 214 are tightly compressed upon the core band 212 to provide a relatively rigid baseboardbrush structure having a multiplicity of radially outwardly projecting flag elements 202. The additional thicknesses of abrasive material provided by the flaps 206 and 208 permit the use of less abrasive material without substantially detracting from the ability of the brush to clean floors and baseboards. The tightly compressed abrasive material adjacent the core band 212 is sufiiciently rigid to support the weight of a floor machine and is well suited to cleaning floors while the generally vertical radially outer edges of the flag elements 202 with the slits 216 therein are adapted for baseboard cleaning.

As seen in FIGURE 11, the baseboard-floor brush is frictionally driven by an adapter member 218 which is dimensioned of sufficient depth to space the radially projecting portions of the brush with vertical clearance below the brush housing (not shown) of a floor machine. The adapter member 218 has only a metal shell, the inner surface of which frictionally engages the brush clutch surface provided by the upper edges of the spacer members 214- to drive the brush. The downwardly projecting annular lip portion 220 of the adapter member 218 tits snugly about the outer radial edge of the spacer members 214 to prevent the brush from spinning out from under the floor machine.

An extremely economical and useful embodiment of the baseboard-floor brush of the present invention is illustrated in FiGURE 14, and includes a disposable loop member 302 of relatively tough, flexible, and relatively elastic material to which is anchored a multiplicity of radially outwardly projecting flag elements 304. The loop member 302 is tightly fitted about a generally circular core member 306 between the axially spaced radially outwardly projecting circumferential flange portions 308 and 310 thereof which restrain the loop member 302 therebetween against axial slippage therefrom during operation of the brush.

A generally circular 'brush clutch pad 312 is adhered to the upper surface of core member 306 to provide an upwardly facing brush clutch surface for frictional engagement with the surface of adapter clutch pad 314 of adapter member 316. A generally circular driving pad 318, which may be identical to the brush clutch pad 312, is adhered to the lower surface of core member 306 to provide a downwardly facing drive surface for frictionally engaging with and driving the floor pad 320 which is prevented from spinning out from under the driving pad 318 by the downwardly projecting lower portions of the flag portions 304. The loop member 302 is sufficiently elastically stretchable to slip conveniently over the flange portions 308, 310 of the core member 306 during removal and replacement and is easily fabricated from conventional textile material having rubber filaments interwoven therein and extending in the direction of elasticity. The flag elements 304 may be readily sewn, stapled or otherwise secured to such material without impairing the structural integrity or elasticity thereof. The loop 7 member 302 is dimensioned to be tensioned tightly about the core member 306 to engage frictionally therewith for substantially preventing relative rotation therebetween during use. Alternatively, the loop member 302 may be in the form of a strip of flexible, relatively strong material such as steel strapping, having a length substantially equal to the circumference of the core member 306 between the flanges 308, 310. A multiplicty of brush flag elements 304 are secured to one side of the strip along the length thereof by adhesive or other suitable means. The

; strip is wrapped about the core member 306 between flanges 308, 310 to form the loop 302, and is engaged therewith to prevent relative rotation by any suitable means such as cooperating projections and recesses on the core 306 and loop 302, respectively. The flange portions 308, 310 restrain the loop from slipping axially with respect to the core 306. The ends of the strip may be secured together by any suitable means such as a buckle-like assembly or may be secured directly to the core member 306 by threaded fasteners or other means.

Although the core member 306 is conveniently fabricated integrally from wood as shown, the core member 306 may be fabricated from two generally circular discs of relatively strong, rigid material such as sheet metal which are disposed above and below and secured to an annular band of similar material with the discs being of greater diameter than the annulus of the band to provide the axially spaced radially outwardly projecting circumferential flange portions 308, 310. Alternatively, the flange portions 308, 310 may be provided by annular rings at the ends of the annular band and a foamed synthetic plastic filler may be provided within the band for supporting the brush clutch pad 312 and driving pad 318. Moreover, the surface portion of the core member 306 intermediate the flange portions 308, 310 may be knurled or otherwise roughened to enhance the frictional engagement with the loop member 302. When the brush flag portions 304 wear out, the loop member 302 is easily and conveniently removed from the core member 306 and a new relatively inexpensive and easily fabricated loop member 302 with new brush flag elements 304 is quickly placed on the core member 306. In this manner, brush flag elements of varying textures for varying purposes may be rapidly interchanged. As described hereinbefore, means (not shown) may be provided for mechanically driving the core member 306 if desired.

This embodiment may be modified somewhat by omitting the loop member 302, and adhering or otherwise securing the brush flag elements 304 directly to the core member 306. In such a modification, the circumferential flange portions 308, 310 would no longer be needed, and a simpler and less expensive core member could be provided by an annular band of relatively strong, rigid and inexpensive material such as steel strapping, rigidified by circular top and bottom members of relatively rigid material dimensioned to cover the axial ends of the annular band and secured thereto. These top and bottom members provide convenient mounting surfaces for floor pads and/ or clutch pads. If so desired, the steel strapping may have axial corrugations about its periphery to provide spaced recesses for receiving the brush flag elements.

FIGURE 15 illustrates an economical embodiment of the novel baseboard-floor brush assembly of the present invention having a unitary drive unit generally designated by the numeral 402 which has an adapter portion 404 of relatively rigid and strong material such as sheet metal. The drive unit 402 also has a core portion comprised of the disc element 406 of relatively strong and rigid material such as sheet metal secured to the lower portion of the adapter portion 404 by welding or other suitable means, a drive pad 408 secured to the lower surface of the disc element 406 by suitable means such as adhesive (not shown), and a floor pad 409 frictionally driven by the drive pad 406 for general floor work. Both the disc element 406 and the drive pad 408 have relatively large central apertures 410, 412 respectively therein to provide access to threaded fasteners (not shown) which pass through apertures 414 in the upper end of the adapter portion 404 to secure the drive unit 402 to the drive shaft of a floor machine (not shown). The disc element 406 is of greater diameter than the lower portion of the adapter portion 404 to provide a radially outwardly projecting flange portion 416.

Disposed about the flange portion 416 is a loop member 418 of sheet metal or other strong and rigid material and having a radially inwardly projecting annular bead portion 420 thereon dimensioned to project inwardly of the periphery of the flange portion 416. The bead portion 42.0 is disposed below the flange portion 416 to limit axial movement thereof and thereby of the drive unit 402 through the loop member 418. Means preventing relative rotation between the loop member 418 and the drive unit 402 is easily provided by the L-shaped bracket or angle iron 422 having one leg secured to the disc element 406 by welding or other means and the other leg 10 secured to the band member 418 by the threaded fastener 424.

The flag elements 428 of flexible abrasive material are secured to the loop member 418 by adhesive (not shown) or other suitable means. In this embodiment the flag elements 428 are mounted on a slope to the loop member 418, i.e., inclined with respect to the axis of rotation, so that the upper ends of the outer radial edges of the flag elements 428 lead the lower ends thereof in the direction of rotation, assuming counterclockwise rotation of the brush. In this manner, when the flag elements 428 spring back into position after having been somewhat flattened against a baseboard, the springing back motion has a downward component and excess fluids are driven downwardly toward the floor rather than radially out wardly. The outer radial edges of the flag elements 428, although sloping axially, are in a generally vertically extending plane when the brush is not in use in cleaning baseboards. It has been found that good results are obtained with the outer radial edge sloping at angles of 30-35 degrees from the vertical.

In the aforedescribed embodiments wherein an inner core member is employed within an outer core member, it may be integrally formed rather than split, in which case one of the pads must be removable therefrom in order to separate the two core members. The inner core member may be conveniently formed of wood, or foamed synthetic plastic material. If foamed synthetic plastic material is used, the periphery of the inner core member should be protected by a sheet metal cover similar to that used to cover the sides of the aperture in the outer core member, and large dish-shaped washers should be placed under the wing nut and fastener head to limit penetration into the upper and lower surfaces of the inner core member.

The foamed plastic material can provide a sufficiently rough surface to engage frictionally with the adapter clutch pad, and thus the brush will operate without a brush clutch pad; however the use of a brush clutch pad prolongs the useful life of the core member and is highly desirable in this respect. Either or both of the floor pad and the brush clutch pad may be included in the core assembly without being positively adhered to the core members if desired, thus simplifying the changing of pads although increasing the number of loose elements for handling.

It has been found that rigid polyurethane foam of a density of about two pounds per cubic foot is well suited for the peripheral core member, being relatively inexpensive, rigid enough to have sufficient resistance to compression under normal usage, relatively light in weight, and strongly adherent to other materials in contact therewith during solidifying thereof.

As a specific example of such a foamed synthetic plastic material which may be conveniently poured in place is a polyurethane foam mixture provided by equal parts by weight of a polyether resin containing catalyst and fluorocarbon blowing agent and polyether prepolymer sold by Reichhold Chemicals, Inc., under the trademark Polylite and identified respectively by Product No. 34 721 and Product No. 34-800. The former component should not be above F. at time of usage and the average temperature of both components at mix time should be between 70 F. and F. After a mix time of about 30 seconds, the mixture should be poured into molds which have been preheated to about to F.

The brush flag elements may be conveniently formed from the low density, non-woven, fibrous abrasive material described in United States Patent No. 2,958,593 granted to Hoover et al. on Nov. 1, 1960. The material described therein is composed of an open, non-woven fabric of tough, resilient, organic fibers bonded together at points of intersection with abrasive particles distributed therewithin and bonded thereto. In use the mall terial leaves substantially no residue and is and-cleaned by virtue of its high porosity.

The floor pads may be conventional materials both of abrasive and of bufiing nature. The clutch pads may be of any suitable material providing sufficient frictional engagement for the driving connection.

In each of the several illustrate-d embodiments, it can be seen that the novel structural concept employing radially extending brush flag elements provides a brush capable of simultaneous cleaning in two planes by making two edge portions of each brush flag portion available for cleaning. The extremely efiicient use of abrasive material inherent in the inventive brush structure may be enhanced by providing symmetry about a horizontal axis, thus enabling the brush to be inverted for making a third edge portion of the brush flag portions available for cleaning.

The friction drive which conveniently may be utilized in the present invention takes advantage of the relatively great weight of the floor machine to provide an extremely effective drive system while eliminating costly and cumbersome mechanical linkage, thereby permitting rapid and easy substitution and replacement of the various brush components including the brush flag portions and floor pads. However, mechanical linkage may be provided if desired as hereinbefore described. Additionally, the adapter member and the core member may be fabricated as a single driving unit having an adapter portion at its upper end and a core portion at its lower end. Such an assembly might be especially advantageous where the flag elements are secured to a loop which is conveniently removable from the core portion thereof as in the embodiment of FIGURE 14.

Thus it can be seen that the present invention provides a novel. and highly utilitarian apparatus Well adapted for the maintenance of baseboards and floors. The adapter member of the baseboard-brush assembly enables the uniquely designed brush member to be used with existing floor machines, thus requiring a minimum of changeover expense. The structurally simple assembly is relatively durable in use and relatively inexpensive. The friction drive results in ease of operation and great versatility in that brushes and floor pads of varying texture may be replaced and substituted with a minimum of time and effort. The brush member may be easily and conveniently fabricated from readily available materials to provide a relatively inexpensive and durable brush for use with existing floor machines for the effective cleaning of baseboards and floors.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. In a floor machine of the type having a generally vertical brush drive shaft and a brush housing, the combination therewith of a baseboard-floor brush member disposed at the lower end of said brush housing and having a core portion and a multiplicity of flag portions of flexible abrasive material extending radially outwardly from said core portion about the periphery thereof, said flag portions extending radially outwardly of said brush housing and therebelow for cleaning of baseboards and extending downwardly to the lower surface of said core portion for contact with and cleaning of floors, said core portion being drivingly engaged with said drive shaft for rotation thereby with said flag portions rotating radially outwardly of said housing for the cleaning of baseboards, as said floor machine is moved adjacent thereto.

2. The combination of claim 1 wherein the radial outer edge portions of said flag portions of said baseboardfloor brush members are divided into a plurality of vertically riented radially extending flag elements to provide greater flexibility in conforming to contours of baseboards being cleaned.

3. The combination of claim 2 wherein each of said flag portions is integrally formed and said flag elements are defined by slits extending radially inwardly from the outer margin thereof.

easily flushed 4. In a floor machine of the type having a generall vertical brush drive shaft and a brush housing, the combination therewith of a baseboard-floor brush member disposed at the lower end of said brush housing and having a core portion and a multiplicity of flag portions formed of flexible abrasive material extending radially outwardly from said core portion about the periphery thereof, said flag portions extending radially outwardly of said brush housing and therebelow for cleaning of baseboards and extending downwardly to the lower surface of said core portion for contact with and cleaning of floors, the outer edge of said flag portions being generally vertical for substantially uniform cleaning of baseboards over the height thereof; and an adapter member having an upper portion drivingly-engaged with said brush driving shaft and a lower portion in driving engagement with said core portion of said brush, said adapter member being dimensioned and configured to space said radially extending flag portions below said brush housing.

5. The combination of claim 4 wherein the lower surface of said adapter member provides a downwardly facing adapter clutch surface and the upper surface of said brush member provides an upwardly facing brush clutch surface in frictional driving engagement with said adapter clutch surface. I

6. The combination of claim 5 wherein said adapter member and said brush member have means axially aligning said adapter and brush members to prevent said brush member from spinning out from under said adapter memher.

7. A baseboard-floor brush assembly comprising a substantially cylindrical brush member having a core portion with a generally circular peripheral portion, and a multi plicity of brush flag portions of flexible abrasive material extending radially outwardly from said peripheral portion about the periphery thereof, said flag portions being of greater axial height than said core portion to provide cylindrical recesses at the axial ends of said core portion, said flag portions being substantially uncompressed over at least the portion thereof adjacent their outer ends to provide deflectability about the contours of a baseboard surface; a generally cylindrical floor cleaning pad in the lower of said cylindrical recesses dimensioned to cooperate with the axial height of said flag portions to provide concurrent cleaning of a floor surface by both said pad and said flag portions and to permit said flag portions to deflect about the contours of a baseboard surface, said flag portions extending axially downwardly to adjacent the lower surface of said floor cleaning pad for contact with and cleaning of floors; and an adapter member in the upper of said cylindrical recesses having an upper portion adapted to be drivingly engaged with the brush driving shaft of a floor machine and a lower portion drivingly engaged withsaid core portion of said brush, said flag portions extending radially outwardly of the periphery of said adapter member.

8. The assembly of claim 7 wherein the lower surface of said adapter member provides a downwardly facing adapter clutch surface and the upper surface of said brush member core portion in said recess provides an upwardly facing brush clutch surface for frictional rotational driving engagement with said adapter clutch surface, and wherein said adapter member and said brush member have means thereon axially aligning said adapter and :brush members to prevent said brush member from spinning out from under said adapter member while in use,

9. The assembly of claim 7 wherein said adapter and brush member are mechanically engaged for simultaneous rotation.

10. A baseboard-floor brush assembly comprising a brush member having a core assembly with a generally circular peripheral core member of foamed synthetic plastic material, said peripheral core member having anoncircular aperture. extending axially therethrough, a split inner core member non-rotatably received in said aperture and comprised of detachably engaged upper and lower elements, a generally circular brush clutch pad attached to said upper element and overlying said peripheral core member, a circular floor pad attached to said lower element and underlying said peripheral core member, said brush member having a multiplicity of brush flag elements of flexible abrasive material extending radially outwardly from said peripheral core member, said flag elements having generally vertically extending outer edges for substantially uniform cleaning of baseboards, said flag elements extending downwardly to the lower surface of said floor pad for contact with and cleaning of floors, the radially inner portions of said flag elements being bonded to said peripheral core member; and an adapter member having an upper end portion adapted to be drivingly engaged with the brush driving shaft of an associated floor machine and a lower end portion for frictional rotational engagement with said brush clutch pad to impart rotation thereto, said adapter member having an annular lip portion extending about said adapter clutch pad and extending downwardly therefrom to provide a circular recess for receiving said brush clutch pad and holding said brush member in axial alignment with said adapter member to prevent said brush member from spinning out from under said adapter member.

11. A baseboard-floor brush assembly comprising a substantially cylindrical brush member having a core assembly with a generally circular peripheral configuration and a multiplicity of brush flag elements of flexible abrasive material extending radially outwardly from the periphery of said core assembly, said flag elements being of greater axial height than said core assembly to provide cylindrical recesses at the axial ends of said core assembly, said flag elements being substantially uncompressed over at least the portion thereof adjacent their outer ends to provide deflectability about the contours of a baseboard surface; a generally cylindrical floor cleaning pad in the lower of said recesses dimensioned to cooperate with the axial height of said flag elements to provide concurrent cleaning of a floor surface by both said pad and said flag elements and to permit said flag elements to deflect about the contours of a baseboard surface, said flag elements having their radially inner end portions secured to the peripheral portion of said core assembly and extending axially downwardly to adjacentthe lower surface of said cleaning pad for contact with and cleaning of floors, said flag elements providing the entire circumferential portion of said brush assembly.

12. The baseboard-floor brush of claim 11 wherein said core assembly is comprised of a peripheral core member having a non-circular aperture extending axially therethrough, an inner core member non-rotatably received in said aperture and wherein said core assembly includes a generally circular brush clutch pad nonrotatably secured to the upper surface of said inner core member and overlying said peripheral coremember for frictional rotational engagement with a rotating drive means, and a generally circular floor pad non-rotatably secured to the lower surface of said inner core member and underlying said peripheral core member for cleaning floors and providing support for the brush.

13. The baseboard-floor brush of claim 12 wherein said inner core member is comprised of detachably engaged upper and lower elements.

14. The baseboard-floor brush of claim 11 wherein said core assembly has a non-circular aperture extending axially thereinto from the upper surface thereof for non-rotatably receiving therein the drive means to transmit rotation to the brush.

15. The baseboard-floor brush of claim 11 wherein said lower surface portion of said core assembly is provided by lower portions of said flag elements extending radially inwardly of the outer' periphery of said core assembly.

16. The baseboard-floor brush of claim 11 wherein said flag elements are provided by a continuous length of flexible abrasive material having a multiplicity of undulations therein to provide an accordion-like annular ring.

17. The baseboard-floor brush of claim 11 wherein said flag elements are provided by a coiled length of flexible abrasive material forming a vertically disposed helix extending about said core member, said length of abrasive material having a multiplicity of slits extending inwardly from the radial outer edge of said helix but terminating inwardly of the other radial edge thereof with the material between adjacent slits providing radially outwardly extending finger-like flags.

18. A baseboard-floor brush comprising a core assembly having a generally circular peripheral core member of foamed synthetic plastic material with a non-circular aperture extending axially therethrough, an inner core member non-rotatably received in said non-circular aperture, a generally circular brush clutch pad nonrotatably attached to the upper surface of said inner core member and overlying said peripheral core member for frictional rotational engagement with rotating drive means of an associated floor machine, and a generally circular floor pad non-rotatably attached to the lower surface of said inner core member and underlying said peripheral core member for cleaning floors and providing support for the brush; and a plurality of brush flag elements extending radially outwardly from said peripheral core member, said flag elements being formed of flexible, abrasive material, with their radially inner end portions secured to said peripheral core member, and having their outer radial edges generally vertically extending for substantially uniform cleaning of baseboards over the height, thereof, said flag elements extending downwardly to the lower surface of said floor pad for contact with and cleaning of floors.

19. The baseboard-floor brush of claim 18 wherein said inner core member is comprised of deta-chably engaged upper and lower elements for convenient removal of said peripheral core element and flag elements.

20. The baseboard-floor brush of claim 18 wherein said brush clutch pad and said floor pad are substantially identical, and wherein said flag elements, peripheral core member and inner core member are symmetrical about a horizontal axis for inverted operation of the baseboardfloor brush.

21. A baseboard-floor brush comprising an annular core band of relatively hightensile strength; and a multiplicity of brush flag elements of flexible abrasive material mounted on said core band in tightly compressed relationship to provide a relatively rigid core structure, said brush elements having outer end portions extending radially outwardly from said core structure, said flag elements being of greater axial height than said core member to provide recesses at the axial ends of said core assembly, said flag elements being substantiallyuncompressed over at least the portion thereof adjacent their outer ends to provide deflectability about the contours of a baseboard surface; a generally cylindrical floor cleaning pad in the lower of said recesses dimensioned to cooperate with the axial height of said flag elements to provide concurrent cleaning of a floor surface by both said pad and said flag elements and to permit said flag elements to deflect about the contours of a baseboard surface, said flag elements having their outer radial edges extending generally vertically for substantially uniform cleaning of baseboards over the height thereof and extending downwardly from said core band for contact with and cleaning of floors, the upper surface of said brush having a generally upwardly facing brush clutch surface portion.

22. A baseboard-floor brush comprising an annular core band of relatively high tensile strength; a multiplicity of brush flag elements of flexible abrasive material mounted on said core band in tightly compressed relationship to provide a relatively rigid core structure, said brush flag elements having outer end portions extending radially outwardly from said core structure, said flag elements being of greater axial height than said core member to provide recesses at the axial ends of said core assembly, said flag elements being substantially uncompressed over at least the portion thereof adjacent their outer ends to provide deflectability about the contours of a baseboard surface; a generally cylindrical floor cleaning pad in the lower of said recesses dimensioned to cooperate with the axial height of said flag elements to provide concurrent cleaning of a floor surface by both said pad and said flag elements and to permit said flag elements to deflect about the contours of a baseboard surface, said flag elements having their outer radial edges extending generally vertically for substantially uniform cleaning of baseboards over the height thereof and extending downwardly from said core band for contact with and cleaning floors; and a plurality of spacer elements mounted on said core band between said brush flag elements with the upper surface thereof providing a generally upwardly facing brush clutch surface.

23. A baseboard-floor brush assembly comprising a substantially cylindrical brush member having a core assembly including a generally circular core member, the upper surface of said core assembly having an upwardly facing brush clutch surface portion for frictional rotating engagement with rotating drive means of an associated floor machine; a loop member extending about the periphcry of said core member and substantially prevented from rotation and axial movement relative thereto; and a multiplicity of brush flag elements of flexible abrasive material extending radially outwardly from said loop member and having their radially inner end portions secured thereto, said flag elements being of greater axial height than said core member to provide recesses at the axial ends of said core assembly, said flag elements being substantially uncompressed over at least the portion thereof adjacent their outer ends to provide deflectability about the contours of a baseboard surface; a generally cylindrical floor cleaning pad in the lower of said recesses dimensioned to cooperate with the axial height of said flag elements to provide concurrent cleaning of a floor surface by both said pad and said flag elements and to permit said flag elements to deflect about the contours of a baseboard surface, and having their outer radial edges generally vertically extending for substantially uniform cleaning of baseboards over the height thereof, said flag elements extending axially downwardly to adjacent the lower surface of said floor pad for contact with and cleaning of floors.

24. A baseboard-floor brush comprising a core assembly having a generally circular core member with two axially spaced radially outwardly projecting flange p01- tions thereon, a brush clutch pad non-rotatably attached to the upper surface of said core member for frictional rotational engagement withthe rotating drive means of an associated floor machine, a driving pad non-rotatably attached to the lower surface of said core member and providing a downwardly facing drive surface, and a floor pad underlying said driving pad and in frictional rotational engagement with the drive surface thereof; a loop member of relatively tough, elastic, flexible material extending in tension tightly about the periphery of said core member and frictionally engaged therewith for preventing substantial relative rotation therebetween, said loop member being disposed between said flange portions and restrained thereby from axially slipping from said core member, said loop member being elastically stretchable to slip over said flange portions during removal and employment thereof; and a plurality of brush flag elements of flexible abrasive material extending radially outwardly from said loop member with their radially inner end portions secured thereto, said flag elements having their radially outer edges extending generally vertically for substantially uniform cleaning of baseboards over the height thereof, said flag elements extending downwardly to the lower surface of said core assembly for-contact with and cleaning of floors and below said core member to define a generally circular recess radially inwardly thereof for receiving said floor pad and restraining said floor pad from spinning out from under the core member.

25. An adapter member for baseboard-floor brushes and the like having an upper end portion configured to engage rotationally with a brush driving shaft of an associated floor machine and a lower end portion configured to engage rotationally with an associated baseboard-floor brush having radially projecting flag elements, the lower end portion of said adapter member having means thereon for axially aligning the brush member therewith to prevent the brush member from spinning out from thereunder, said adapter member being configured and dimensioned to space the flag elements of the brush member below the housing of the floor machine, a lower surface of said adapter member providing a downwardly facing adapter clutch surface portion configured for frictional, rotational engagement with a brush clutch surface of an associated brush member, said aligning means being provided by a lip portion extending about said adapter clutch surface portion and depending downwardly therefrom to provide a recess for receiving a cooperatively dimensioned upwardly projecting portion of the brush member.

26. A baseboard-floor brush assembly comprising a substantially cylindrical brush member having a generally circular core portion with an upper surface portion adapted to engage rotationally with rotating drive means of an associated floor cleaning machine and a multiplicity of brush flag portions of flexible abrasive material extending radially outwardly from said core portion about the periphery thereof and being of greater axial height than said core portion to provide cylindrical recesses at the axial ends of said core portion, said flag portions being substantially uncompressed over at least the portion thereof adjacent their outer ends to provide deflectability about the contours of a baseboard surface; a generally cylindrical floor cleaning pad in the lower of said cylindrical recesses dimensioned to cooperate with the axial height of said flag portions to provide concurrent cleaning of a floor surface by both said pad and said flag portions and to permit said flag portions to deflect about the contours of a baseboard surface for cleaning baseboards, said flag portions extending downwardly to adjacent the lower surface of said floor pad for contact with and cleaning of floors.

27. The brush assembly of claim 26 wherein the radial outer edge portions of said brush flag portions are divided into a plurality of vertically oriented radially extending flag elements to provide greater flexibility in conforming to contours of baseboards being cleaned.

28. The brush assembly of claim 27 wherein each of said flag portions is integrally formed and said flag elements are defined by slits extending radially inwardly from the outer radial margin thereof.

29. The brush assembly of claim 26 wherein said core portion and said flag portions are symmetrical about a horizontal axis for inverted operation of the brush.

30. The brush assembly of claim 26 wherein the flag portions are inclined with respect to the axis of rotation and the upper ends of the outer radial edge of said brush flag portions lead the lower ends thereof in'the direction of rotation.

31. A baseboard-floor brush assembly comprising a drive unit having an adapter portion at the upper end thereof with an upper end adapted to be drivingly engaged with the brush driving shaft of an associated floor machine and a generally circular core portion at the lower end thereof; a'multiplicity of brush flag portions of flexible abrasive material extending radially outwardly from said core portion about the periphery thereof and being of greater axial height than said core portion to provide recesses at the axial ends of said core portion, said flag portions being substantially uncompressed over at least the portion thereof adjacent their outer ends to provide deflectability about the contours of a baseboard surface; a floor cleaning pad in the lower of said recesses dimensioned to cooperate with the axial height of said flag portions to provide concurrent cleaning of a floor surface by both said pad and said flag portions and to permit said flag portions to deflect about the contours of a baseboard surface for cleaning baseboards, said flag portions extending axially downwardly to adjacent the lower surface of said cleaning pad for contact with and cleaning of floors, said adapter portion being disposed in the upper of said recesses.

32. A generally cylindrical baseboard-floor brush assembly comprising a drive unit having an adapter portion at the upper end thereof with an upper end adapted to be drivingly engaged with the brush driving shaft of an associated floor machine and a generally circular core portion at the lower end thereof; a loop member extending about the periphery of said core portion and substantially prevented from rotation and axial movement relative thereto; and a multiplicity of brush flag elements of flexible abrasive material extending radially outwardly from said loop member and having their radially inner end portions secured thereto, said flag elements being of greater axial height than said core portion to provide a recess at the lower axial end of said core portion, said flag elements being substantitally uncompressed over at least the portion thereof adjacent their outer ends to provide deflectability about the contours of a baseboard surface; a generally cylindrical floor cleaning pad in said recess dimensioned to cooperate with the axial height of said flag elements to provide concurrent cleaning of a floor surface by both said pad and said flag elements and to permit said flag elements to deflect about the contours of a baseboard surface, said flag elements having their outer radial edges extending in a generally vertical surface for substantially uniform cleaning of baseboards over the height thereof, said flag elements extending axially downwardly to adjacent the lower surface of said floor pad for contact with and cleaning of floors.

33. A baseboard-floor brush assembly comprising a drive unit having an adapter portion at the upper end thereof with an upper end adapted to be drivingly engaged with the brush driving shaft of an associated floor machine and a generally circular core portion at the lower end thereof, said core portion providing a flange portion of relatively strong and rigid material projecting radially outwardly from the lower end of said adapter portion; a loop member extending about the periphery of said fiange portion and having a radially inwardly projecting head portion dimensioned to project radially inwardly of the periphery of said flange portion and to extend thereunder to limit axial movement of said flange portion and thereby said drive unit through said loop member; means preventing relative rotational movement of said loop member with respect to said core portion; and a multiplicity of brush flag elements of flexible abrasive material extending radially outwardly from said loop member and having their radially inner end portions secured thereto, said flag elements extending downwardly to the lower surface of said core portion for contact with and cleaning of floors.

34. The baseboard-floor brush assembly of claim 33 wherein the flag elements are inclined with respect to the axis of rotation and the upper ends of the outer radial edges of said brush flag elements lead the lower ends thereof in the direction of rotation.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,675,078 6/1928 Yutzler 51-177 X 2,506,288 5/1950 Bahr 15-23014 2,798,343 7/1957 Block 51-337 2,913,857 11/1959 Reed et al. 51-334 3,028,709 4/1962 Hedden 51-337 3,047,897 8/ 1962 Bartos et al. 15-98 3,181,193 5/1965 Nobles et al. 15-180 2,662,351 12/1953 Iobbi 51-177 2,713,757 7/1955 Brennecke 51-177 2,035,042 3/1963 Bridgman 51-337 2,948,090 8/1960 Klingspor 51-337 FOREIGN PATENTS 232,567 8/ 1944 Sweden.

ROBERT C. RIORDON, Primary Examiner. LESTER M. SWINGLE, Examiner. J. A. MATHEWS, Assistant Examiner. 

1. IN A FLOOR MACHINE OF THE TYPE HAVING A GENERALLY VETICCAL BRUSH DRIVE SHAFT AND A BRUSH HOUSING, THE COMBINATION THEREWITH OF A BASEBOARD-FLOOR BRUSH MEMBER DISPOSED AT THE LOWER END OF SAID BRUSH HOUSING AND HAVING A CORE PORTION AND A MULTIPLICITY OF FLAG PORTIONS OF FLEXIBLE ABRASIVE MATERIAL EXTENDING RADIALLY OUTWARDLY FROM SAID CORE PORTION ABOUT THE PERIPHERY THEREOF, SAID FLAG PORTIONS EXTENDING RADIALLY OUTWARDLY OF SAID BRUSH HOUSING AND THEREBELOW FOR CLEANING OF BASEBOARDS AND EXTENDING DOWNWARDLY TO THE LOWER SURFACE OF SAID CORE PORTION FOR CONTACT WITH AND CLEANING OF FLOORS, SAID CORE PORTION BEING DRIVINGLY ENGAGED WITH SAID DRIVE SHAFT FOR ROTATION THEREBY WITH SAID FLAG PORTIONS ROTATING RADIALLY OUTWARDLY OF SAID HOUSING FOR THE CLEANING OF BASEBOARDS, AS SAID FLOOR MACHINE IS MOVED ADJACENT THERETO. 